Karsten entered the audience chamber to deliver his report to the Emperor.

At the far end of the hall, Emperor Raician sat slumped upon the throne, his body leaning precariously as though it were an effort just to remain upright.

Approaching him, Karsten bent down on one knee.

“I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Yes, Duke White.”

With effort, Raician rose to his feet. Supported by those nearby, he moved forward and patted Karsten’s shoulder.

“Rise.”

When Karsten stood, Raician once more touched his shoulder with a kindly expression.

“You have endured much hardship.”

Raician’s face looked even worse than it had at the last hunting festival. As he watched him closely, Karsten felt a storm of emotions stir within him. The Emperor’s frailty was a sign that the day when the throne would change hands was approaching. His thoughts grew heavy.

“I hear the Hueta Empire has pressed south.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Have you discovered how they came to know our internal geography?”

Karsten held back his words when Raician asked a question. The reason for their sudden incursion was already clear, even without further investigation. Despite his injuries, he had continued the interrogations without pause and found proof of how they had advanced so easily. They had found a map of the borderlands on their leader’s body.

‘The Pophia Palace.’

No one else could have done this. It was from there that state secrets had been leaked, and it was from there that the attempt on his life had originated. He could faintly discern the reason as well.

“Among those involved in this matter, I know the Empress herself is counted. And when it comes to the Crown Prince, I know far more than I should.”

It all stemmed from the final hint that Heremon, the head of the Rediac Merchant Company, gave before his assets were seized.

“I hardly thought he would agree to meet…”

Karsten had anticipated that Jerron might seek out Heremon, but that he had truly met with him was unexpected. Yet it made one thing certain.

Crown Prince Fedriol could not be the Emperor’s true blood.

‘Gabriel…’

He wondered if his preparations were proceeding well.

Karsten recalled the words he had spoken to Gabriel before the campaign.

“Fedriol is not His Majesty’s blood.”

“If my brother truly isn’t His Majesty’s son, then whose blood does he carry?”

“I cannot say for certain yet—but there is someone I suspect.”

That someone was Marquis Etro, Jerron.

“The reason I tell you this is because it means there is a chance you may inherit the throne.”

Karsten hoped that Gabriel would not back away from the situation. He wondered what stance Gabriel would take.

Closing his fist tightly, Karsten answered Raician’s question.

“We are still in the midst of interrogation.”

“Is that so.”

“If I uncover more, I will bring the report to you myself.”

As he released the tension in his fist, Karsten bowed his head deeply.

“Alright. I trust you will see it through, Duke White.”

Raician added that he should not overexert himself. After patting Karsten on the shoulder once more, he struggled back up to the throne with the help of his attendants.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“OK you may leave.”

Karsten bowed low to Raician, then turned and left the audience chamber.

The moment the great doors closed behind him, he called for Benon.

“Benon, we’re going straight—”

He had intended to head directly for Gabriel’s palace, but an unexpected figure stepped in his way.

“Greetings, Duke White.”

It was Lady Cage, head of the Empress’s attendants. At her sudden appearance, Karsten’s lips tightened noticeably.

“It has been some time, Lady Cage.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I am simply grateful that you remember me.”

“What brings you here?”

“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to share a conversation with you.”

After explaining the reason for her visit, she gestured politely, as though guiding him. Without a word, Karsten followed her lead.

Unlike the Emperor’s austere palace, the Pophia Palace dazzled from the moment you entered it. Its excessive luxury was blinding.

Leaving that splendour behind, Lady Cage led Karsten to the heart of the palace — the Empress’s greenhouse.

The moment he stepped inside, a pungent fragrance hit him, drawing an involuntary frown to his face. As he furrowed his brow, he heard a gentle voice.

“Oh my. Duke White, it has been too long.”

Eglet, seated within and leisurely enjoying her tea, greeted him with a smile of warm delight.

“I greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”

“There is no need for such formality. Duke White, please, come sit here.”

Eglet beckoned him kindly, her tone laced with apparent concern.

“I heard you’ve been through a lot recently. How is your health, Duke White?”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I am safe and well. You have my gratitude.”

Eglet poured tea into the cup before him and said,

“This tea is effective for headaches. The herbs were grown by my own hand.”

Karsten gazed silently at the cup for a long moment before speaking in a low voice.

“Herbs, you say…”

Turning the teacup in his hand, he added quietly,

“I heard that these herbs are used as a poison during prisoner interrogations in the Hueta Empire.”

At his words, Eglet’s fingers froze in mid-motion. Karsten watched her closely with calm, unhurried eyes before raising the cup to his lips and drinking.

“To others, it must look as though Your Majesty were interrogating me.”

When Karsten spoke with a faint smile, Eglet’s lips stiffened slightly. Noticing her reaction, he placed his teacup down gently and continued.

“But I’ve only just learned that a poisonous herb can just as well prove to be a most effective medicine.”

“…”

“My thanks.”

By now, Eglet’s expression had twisted deeply.

“In any case, something rather interesting happened before I set out on this campaign.”

“…Something interesting?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eglet forced a smile as she asked,

“And what sort of interesting thing might that be?”

“Have you heard about Heremon? He’s the head of the Rediac Merchant Company and was sentenced to forced labor for breaching a contract.”

“Yes. I heard well enough of what he did to you, Duke—that he dared to swindle the White Duke himself.”

“Indeed. But I heard from someone at the mine where he had been sent to work.”

“…”

“They reported that the prisoner had lost both his hands, leaving him unable to participate.”

Eglet set her teacup down with a sharp clatter, attempting to cut his words short—but Karsten was faster.

“What’s more, they say his tongue was cut out as well, leaving him unable to speak.”

“My, how pitiful.”

“What could have driven someone to leave him in such a state? What were they so desperate to hide?”

Karsten took another sip of tea before continuing.

“But then, is there truly any secret in this world that can remain hidden?”

He drained the cup and set it aside with a faint smile.

Eglet glared at him, her face drawn and sharp, but Karsten did not let his smile fade.

“My apologies, but may I take my leave now?”

“Yes, of course, Duke.”

Karsten rose from his seat and left the greenhouse.

Eglet watched his retreating back, both her fists trembling violently.

💙💙💙 💙💙💙

By the time Karsten returned to the ducal estate, it was already late at night.

“Where is Laterna?”

The first thing he asked his butler, Benon, was the whereabouts of Breti.

“She retired early this evening, Your Grace.”

“Is that so?”

Karsten cast a brief glance at the staircase. For some reason, a strange light flickered in his eyes as he looked at it, just as it did when Adrian appeared.

“I understand.”

After Benon bowed and withdrew, Karsten quickly ascended the stairs. Halfway up, he turned back and called for Benon.

“Benon, you may go for the night.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

It was only after Benon had disappeared that Karsten — or rather, Adrian — continued up the stairs.

This time, however, he did not go to his own rooms, but to Breti’s instead. Without hesitating, he entered the room and approached the bed where she lay. As Benon had said, Breti was fast asleep.

“Breti.”

Adrian gently stroked her hair, speaking in a low murmur.

“We’ll be together for the rest of our lives now. Please… don’t hold it against me.”

He looked at her for a moment before looking out of the window. More precisely, his gaze was fixed on the world beyond, where there was no rain.

It was in this absence of rain that Adrian had awoken.